Facebook unveils ‘trending topics’ feature
Zuckerberg to give Harvard graduation speech
WASHINGTON, May 25, (Agencies): Facebook on Wednesday unveiled its latest redesign to its “trending topics” feature — its latest move to give users a variety of sources on important news events.
The huge social network — which has faced criticism for creating “filter bubbles” that reinforce the views of users, and has been accused of bias in selecting its news sources — said the new design will offer a “carousel” with a variety of websites.
“You’ve always been able to click on a topic to see related posts and stories, but we’ve redesigned the page to make it easier to discover other publications that are covering the story, as well as what your friends and public figures are saying about it,” Facebook said in a blog post.
“Now, when you click on a trending topic, you’ll see a carousel with stories from other publications about a given topic that you can swipe through.”
The blog signed by Facebook product manager Ali Ahmadi and designer John Angelo said the aim is to help people “feel more informed about the news in their region.”
They added there would be “no predetermined list of publications” which appear in trending topics and that the update “does not affect how trending topics are identified,” after a series of changes.
Earlier this year, Facebook revised its formula for trending news in an effort to weed out “fake news” by tweaking its algorithm to diminish the importance of how much a news story is shared.
Last year, Facebook moved to make its trending topics automated, scaling back human selection after critics complained curators were deliberately omitting stories from conservative news outlets.
Facebook made the changes last year despite arguing that its research discovered no systematic bias in story selection.
The social network, which has nearly two billion users worldwide, is an increasingly important source of news for its members.
Facebook has brushed aside the idea that misinformation spread over its network was a major factor in the 2016 US presidential election, but has stepped up efforts to weed out hoaxes and unverified news.
The new “trending” design is rolling out for iPhone users in the US, and will soon be available for Android and desktop, Facebook said.
Also:
NEW YORK: Facebook is expanding its fundraising tools that let users ask friends and strangers to give them money to help pay for education, medical or other expenses.
The company has been testing the tool, which is similar to online fundraising services such as GoFundMe, since March. With the latest update, it has added sports and community fundraisers as options. It’s also possible to raise money for medical expenses for pets, crisis relief, funerals, and a slew of other categories.
To start a fundraiser, scroll down the “menu” icon on mobile until you get to the “fundraisers” category. On desktop, visit facebook.com/fundraisers . Facebook says it will review all fundraisers within 24 hours. There is a fee of 6.9 percent plus 30 cents for payment processing, vetting and security.
LOS ANGELES: Facebook is prepared to pay as much as $250,000 per episode for its planned original video initiative, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the project. The company also plans to license shorter-form content for $10,000 to $35,000 an episode, and has signed on Vox Media, BuzzFeed, ATTN, and Group Nine Media to produce videos.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg first started publicly talking about spending money on what he called “anchor content” for Facebook’s video tab during the company’s most recent earnings call earlier this month. During that same call, Facebook CFO David Wehner said that the company was looking at “kickstarting an ecosystem for longer-form content on Facebook” with upfront investments.
Soon after, Business Insider reported that Facebook had signed up Conde Nast to produce some of its originals. Titles in production reportedly included a VR dating show and other shows involving A-list celebrities. Facebook was looking to unveil a first slate of content at the Cannes Lions advertising festival in June, according to Business Insider.
Wednesday’s report confirmed that Facebook is essentially looking at two tiers of programming: Longer-form originals which it wants to own outright, and shorter shows running five to 10 minutes that it may license on a windowed basis.
Facebook didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, but previously declined to comment on the topic.
NEW YORK: Mark Zuckerberg is giving a commencement address at Harvard, where he dropped out 12 years ago to focus on Facebook.
Zuckerberg, 33, follows another famous Harvard dropout, Bill Gates, who spoke before its graduates a decade ago. Steve Jobs, who dropped out of Reed College in Oregon, gave Stanford’s commencement speech in 2005.
Zuckerberg started Facebook in his Harvard dorm room in 2004. He also met his wife, Priscilla Chan, there.
The event was to be livestreamed Thursday afternoon on Harvard’s website and on Zuckerberg’s Facebook page. On Tuesday, Zuckerberg and Chan live-streamed a video from Zuckerberg’s old dorm room on his Facebook page.